GALLERY

Archive for September 13th, 2008

MIAMI, USA (CMC) – American Olympic legend Carl Lewis has raised stern doubts over Usain Bolt’s recent stunning performances but has stopped short of accusing the Jamaican sprint marvel of doping.In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Lewis also lashed out at Jamaica’s drug-testing programme, saying that it too needed to be examined in light of the fact there was no random drug-testing of athletes.“When people ask me about Bolt I say he could be the greatest athlete of all-time. But for someone to run 10.03 one year and 9.69 the next, if you don’t question that in a sport that has the reputation it has right now, you’re a fool. Period,” Lewis contended.“I’m proud of America right now because we have the best random and most comprehensive drug-testing programme. Countries like Jamaica do not have a random programme so they can go months without being tested.“No one is accusing Bolt, but don’t live by a different rule and expect the same kind of respect. How dare anybody feel that there shouldn’t be scrutiny, especially in our sport?”Bolt raised eyebrows in Beijing last month when he jetted to World Record times in capturing three gold medals at the 29th Olympiad.He clocked 9.69 seconds to win the 100 metres and returned to break American Michael Johnson’s 12-year-old, 200 metres record of 19.32 seconds with a new time of 19.30. In the process, Bolt became the first athlete in 24 years – Lewis was the last in 1984 – to win the coveted the sprint double.The 22-year-old then crowned a fine outing with his third gold as a member of the Jamaica sprint relay team.Bolt, along with the other Jamaican sprinters, were tested repeatedly at the Beijing Olympics but none of the results returned positive.Lewis, the star of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with four gold medals, said he also questioned Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown’s failure to make the 100 metres team for the recent Olympics.“Veronica Campbell-Brown lives in the United States and has been transparent and consistent,” Lewis pointed out.“She won the Worlds last year in the 100 metres and this year can’t even make the team. Are you going to tell me that shouldn’t be questioned?”Dr Herb Elliott, the Jamaican team doctor who is also a member of the IAAF anti-doping commission, hit back saying: “They still think we don’t know anything down in Jamaica.“I am the person who tests in Jamaica, and I tested Bolt 15 times between last November and December.”